Integrity 101

I received your message indicating surprise and disappointment with your final grade this semester. In your message, you said “I did miss several days in your class. I did not mean to miss but I was just going through so much this semester with a death in my family, my house got robbed, fired from my job for being 10 minutes late and my good friend died so i [sic] am sorry for that.”

I am sorry, too. I am particularly sorry that I was hog hunting in South Carolina and was, therefore, unable to respond immediately to your rather pathetic little missive. But before I get to the solution to your problem, let me share with you some of the details of my hunt. After you hear those details, you may decide that you are interested in an extra credit assignment designed especially for you, your special needs, and your fragile feminine feelings.

Yesterday was my first experiment with the Southern tradition of hunting deer by running dogs – I generally prefer to “still hunt” in a deer stand. After wading through a half a mile of swamp (sometimes knee deep) I arrived at a spot that allowed me access to three shooting lanes at the edge of a break in the woods. I sat down on a fallen tree, removed my boots, and dumped the swamp water out in the hopes of getting my toes unfrozen (just in case I had to chase a wounded animal).

About ninety minutes into the hunt, I saw a large black mass that appeared to be a dog paddling across a stream as I watched over my right shoulder. When it got out of the water, I realized it wasn’t a dog. It was a wild boar that weighed about 200 pounds. The boar cut immediately to his left and started heading down a break in the woods that opened up just nineteen yards in front of me.

My heart was pounding because I knew that when he saw me he would want to kill me just as badly as I wanted to kill him. Clearly, within a few moments someone or something was going to die. With a round of three-inch magnum 12-gauge ammunition in the barrel of my Benelli, I aimed at the break in the woods. When he presented me with a broadside shot (his head and neck were blocked by a tree) I hit him with all fifteen pellets of lead.

Just as soon as that boar cut across the open area I was hit with a huge surprise. Another 200-pound boar was right behind him. I kept my composure and fired a fatal shot into the first boar’s gut. He managed to run about thirty yards before I heard him crash in the woods. The second boar cut across my path and headed into a dry portion of the woods. I ran after him only about eight yards into the woods (until I got wrapped up in briars and brush). I had to let that sweating slab of bacon go and start the search for his dead companion.

When we all got back to the cabin about seven deer and seven hogs had to be skinned. A couple of hogs had to be left behind because they could not be found and/or dragged all the way out of the woods. Nonetheless, there was enough meat for two hogs to be given to a poor black family that lived in the vicinity.

Hunters are not only our best conservationists. They are among our best humanitarians, too. If the folks at PETA had their say, that poor black family would go without the food this winter in order to make a statement about animal rights.

Shortly after I got home I read your email. I immediately checked my records to see whether there had been a mistake in your grade. There was. The grade of “D-” that you received was an error caused by my inefficiency in using the new grading system. Rather than typing in a grade, we have to scroll through a list of available options. Fortunately for you, my keypunch error meant that I did not give you the grade of “F” that you earned this semester.

After I discovered the error, I rechecked all of my grades and, fortunately, yours was the only mistake. In other words, you are both a) the only person to get a higher grade than he deserved and, b) the only person to complain about his grade this semester.

In my research, I also noticed that you lied in saying you missed “several” classes. To be precise, you missed the final 28 class meetings, which, needless to say explains your failure. This casts doubt on the validity of your death, robbery, and firing stories – none of which I suspect are true. This also reveals a deep flaw in your character that I intend to address with the following extra credit assignment:

During the first week of January, I am going to take you down to South Carolina for a free hog hunt. We will carry my Benelli along with a Glock 10mm backup pistol and a machete. I will carry the guns and let you have the machete in case we need to go deep into the woods to fetch a dead hog. I’ll let you hold a gun if you would like but I’m afraid you may miss your target in a stressful situation. In fact, I suspect you’ll be shaking like a blind lesbian at a weenie roast if we encounter hogs the size of the two I saw last weekend.

After we harvest a hog, we’re going to go give it to one of the poor underprivileged South Carolina black families that - due to racism, segregation, and poverty – have never had the opportunity to pursue a public education. When you meet them I want you to explain why you have squandered opportunities they never had – opportunities like a place in the North Carolina university system where 70% of your education is funded by the public. In other words, I want you to explain to those poor folks your decision to abuse the welfare system despite your white privileged upbringing. After we drop off the free hog, I will give you an opportunity to choose between two alternatives. You may either a) keep the “D-” you did not earn or, b) take the “F” that you did earn. I’ll respect your decision either way. But if you choose option “A”, don’t ever sign up for one of my classes again. Just take a course from one of the feminist professors. They have aborted 1/4 of the males in your generation and seek to turn the other 3/4 of the males into effeminate victims who are dishonest with their professors and afraid of hunting. Think this matter over carefully before you get back to me. Neither I nor our nation can tolerate another of your metrosexual missives. Nor can our nation survive without a revival of emphasis on character, responsibility, and personal integrity.

Mike Adams is a criminology professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and author of Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel: Confessions of a Conservative College Professor.

The guy is a known conservative who has posted similar articles. While I agree with the basis of the letter(Be appreciative of what you have and show some integrity/honor in your decisions). It did have one hell of a holier than thou tone.

I agree with his thought process since I am a teacher myself but I did not like how he tried to demean the other guy. A simple, "Hey, you screwed up so now you're going to live with the consequences" is what I do when I get students like that. He did not have to go to the point of saying he had to explain to a poor black family that he squandered the opportunity they haven't had. I do love the emphasis on responsability, character, and personal integrity.

The "system" is not working bro. I'm in public education and we have been offering more resources then ever before, more specialists then ever before, more after school activities then ever before BUT we are still failing. He is right to a large extent. Students aren't being challenged enough. If students aren't challenged they will never know what their capable of. They will never know what their strengths and weaknesses are. I don't want to take help away from students but not challenging them is a major flaw that exists in many school districts today. Wouldn't you like to know your strengths and weaknesses after you graduate ?

We have to dumb down the material so enough students can pass and I dislike that attitude. The burocrazies (Thanks to No Child Left Behind) put all educational emphasis on standardized testing, which take away many important days of instruction. There's only so much you can teach in 188 days of instruction. Then there's all the BS that turns away all good teachers away from education and leads them to different careers and you end up with under-qualified and unexperienced teachers working in the worst districts with the worst students, who subsequently quit w/in 3-4 years due the BS and better opportunities elsewhere. This is just a little bit that I can think about, there's so much more crap that would make you say "Holy sh!t, run for cover !"

I just got a call today from the school nurse that says my kids can't go back to school until they get a note saying they had the chicken pox at some point in their life...What a waste...More energy is spend on that crap than on the actual education.

I just got a call today from the school nurse that says my kids can't go back to school until they get a note saying they had the chicken pox at some point in their life...What a waste...More energy is spend on that crap than on the actual education.

You'd get an anurism if you knew what items were prioritized over books or innovative teaching materials People say I worry too much but I'm just a perfectionist

I honestly believe ADD and ADHD is largely because of Poor diet and diet knowledge, as well as a general lack of interest.

why throw 30 kids in a box and expect them to all behave the same, two kids thinks its stupid and doest apply to the real world, three kid doesnt understand and doesnt care hes just worried about how to get home without a beating, one kid doesnt want to go home to a beating, two kids cant go to the bathroom cause hes trying to conceal wood, and a few kids are planning getting drunk that weekend, a few kids are too hungy to learn, some kids are actually trying to learn but the books are out of date and the children in the pictures are retiring.

Hey altleast he can go hunting. The teacher has several good points, but did sound angry at the drop out, and frustrated with the system.

**** integrity, who's ass is that in your avatar.

Letter was overkill and gave me douche chills thru certain parts. He could have just started it "Shortly after I got home..." Sounds like someone looking for an opportunity to brag & extol the virtues of hunting. They truly are humanitarians for thinning the population of deer. In the words of Ned from South Park, "If we don't kill them they'd die."

Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for life. Lao Tse 6th century BC

Letter was overkill and gave me douche chills thru certain parts. He could have just started it "Shortly after I got home..." Sounds like someone looking for an opportunity to brag & extol the virtues of hunting. They truly are humanitarians for thinning the population of deer. In the words of Ned from South Park, "If we don't kill them they'd die."

Google keyra augustina, shes got some good vids. Yeah the guy was a douche but hes walking the walk and im talking the talk.

In reflection i think this teacher was taking an effort to shake this stuent out of a state of mind where he blames others and events for his shortcommings. I dont however that kicking an already depressive weak human being into the ground further will straighten him out. Maybe hes tried a more supportive route and maybe he doesnt hug his grandchildren because his father never hugger him. Anger, disgust, and condescension are negative emotions and should not be used to elicit a positive change. He was taking his own frustration out an another and now in reflection i find this teacher has abused the trust enstilled in him that he should have the proffesionalism and respect in himself to refrain from .

The letter was a grand way to be fired. I see the teachers' point though. A lot of schoolchildren and University students in America lack a drive in the scholastics. I do not blame the teachers as much as I do the parents and the school system. Parents dump their children off at school to be babysat and given the basics in an education; it is up to the parents to get involved in their Childs education and future. A lack of family involvement is the root of most troubles I feel in today’s society.

If a child is slightly different then another child and one that is excelling in their studies, then something must be wrong with this child. We are too quick to label our children as having a syndrome or a condition. Read with them, teach them, guide them and be a bloody parent. Control their eating habits (this has a lot to do with their behaviour I feel) and get involved.

The letter was a grand way to be fired. I see the teachers' point though. A lot of schoolchildren and University students in America lack a drive in the scholastics. I do not blame the teachers as much as I do the parents and the school system. Parents dump their children off at school to be babysat and given the basics in an education; it is up to the parents to get involved in their Childs education and future. A lack of family involvement is the root of most troubles I feel in today’s society.

If a child is slightly different then another child and one that is excelling in their studies, then something must be wrong with this child. We are too quick to label our children as having a syndrome or a condition. Read with them, teach them, guide them and be a bloody parent. Control their eating habits (this has a lot to do with their behaviour I feel) and get involved.

There is a systematic dumbing down of American citizens that starts with indoctrination in the school system. There are rewards for those children who can best adapt to the corporate consumerist agenda, that is our state sponcered education system. Those rewards include jobs supporting the very same agenda either through direct production or by influencing the minds of the populace by regurgitating the corporate mandates of consumerism. When a child shows interest or aptitude in something other than the corporate culture they are alienated and admonished by the school system...." Conform or be cast out!"-RUSH

Of course the rest of the world has not noticed that Americans are somewhat lacking, or have they???

Well we all have our own experiences and our own biases for whatever reason they may be.I dont agree with all thats been done in the church nor do I agree with all thats been done by the religion of intellectualism.That aside this whining kid used excuses to cover up his lack of dedication and that is learned at HOME.Even that is no excuse because once youre old enough to understand that in the end ;in one way shape or form you will be held accountable for your actions,youre now responsible to make the necessary changes.So dont blame the church for others irresponsibility and lack of ownership for their faults,shortcomings and poor choices.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths . Proverbs 3:5-6

Well we all have our own experiences and our own biases for whatever reason they may be.I dont agree with all thats been done in the church nor do I agree with all thats been done by the religion of intellectualism.That aside this whining kid used excuses to cover up his lack of dedication and that is learned at HOME.Even that is no excuse because once youre old enough to understand that in the end ;in one way shape or form you will be held accountable for your actions,youre now responsible to make the necessary changes.So dont blame the church for others irresponsibility and lack of ownership for their faults,shortcomings and poor choices.

Being an Atheist, I do not blame the church for any misgivings of a human. We make our own decision and choices in life, not your preacher for you. I blame the parents partially too, children emulate the ones that raise them to a point. We learn from our parents and they are the key to the development of our young. If more would take action and accept blame for their actions or lack of actions, this would be a nicer planet to live on.

I think the teacher may have gone to far in our Politically Correct stupidity that we seem to be embracing so much, yet it is grand to hear someone cut through all the bull and tell it like it is.